A MasterChef winner and restaurateur has slammed Scots Love Island star Biggs Chris for trying to blag a free meal.
Simon Wood, 44, blasted ‘scrounging insensitive fools’ after he received an email from an agency asking if the 28-year-old reality star could get a complimentary meal at his restaurant.
The freebie meal would then provide the Manchester restaurant with exposure on Instagram, The Mirror reports.
“Some people are mind-numbingly ignorant,” the chef wrote on Twitter alongside a screenshot of the email.
“After what hospitality has been through jokers like this are still savaging freebies in the name of influence Get in the bin….. scrounging insensitive fools….”
(Image: PA)
In the e-mail, the person introduced themselves as the Partnerships Manager at The Best Connected – a talent and brand agency.
They went on to explain how they “look after a number of high profile individuals” in the industry.
“I am reaching out as I would like to be put in touch with your GM/Marketing Team regarding our client, TV personality and influencer, Biggs Chris,” they wrote to Simon.
“He is coming to Manchester and I wanted to ask if you could arrange a complimentary dining experience for him and a guest this Friday 30th April?”
Biggs was an Islander from season six of the ITV2 reality shows, entering the villa on day 23 and leaving three days later.
Bars and restaurants across the UK only just recently reopened after being closed for four months.
(Image: @SimonJWoodUK/Twitter)
The hospitality industry has been suffering greatly due to the pandemic, with many businesses closing down and thousands of people losing their jobs.
Biggs, who is dating fellow Love Island star Rebecca Gormley, took to his 144,000 followers to deny having any involvement in the request.
He said: “One, I don’t even know the agency that sent that right. Like, legit I don’t know, hands up.
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“Two, I actually agree with this Simon dude, right. I get it. But he could have just replied back to the email and said no. Why post it? But he knew it would get some clout.”
The Love Island star then said it was ‘normal’ for influencers to get freebies in return for publicity.
“And three, this is normal in England, where celebs or influencers or whatever go to a restaurant and in return get a free meal for promo.
“Let’s say I did go with Rebecca [girlfriend], right, and we posted it, and the guy got 50 other customers from that. He’s chilling. You get me.”
